Area Mayors Say Infrastructure Projects “Ready to Go”
MAYORS
Norwalk Hour
Tait Militana
Boston University Washington News Service
1/17/09
WASHINGTON – Area mayors, in town for the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, named improving the local infrastructure a top priority in the coming months, calling for a collaborative effort to increase jobs in Fairfield County and pass President-elect Barack Obama’s stimulus plan.
The conference announced more than $150 billion in “Ready to Go” projects across the nation that if funded could start this year and create 1.5 million jobs in 2009 and 2010. Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, a conference trustee, said the money needs to be spent to reinvent America.
“We want merchants and citizens to know that mayors are arguing their case,” said Malloy. “That relief needs to be delivered to Main Street and we will be their advocate.”
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and Fairfield Selectman Kenneth Flatto also are attending the meeting, which has focused on the economy, jobs and infrastructure.
Of the $150 billion in potential projects named in the conference report, more than $180 million could be spent in Norwalk, including $45 million towards a wastewater treatment plant upgrade, $43 million to renovate the urban core to include sidewalks and lighting and $7 million to repair and modernize schools.
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia did not attend the conference and was not immediately available for comment.
According to Malloy, these projects are especially important for Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport residents because much of the infrastructure is so old.
“Rather than plasma TVs we’re going to buy infrastructure that will allow our country to be competitive,” said Malloy. “We spend less on infrastructure than any other industrial nation in the world. We’re way behind.”
The report also predicted the Northeast will be one of the hardest hit areas in the country in 2009. It forecasted almost 7,000 people will lose their jobs this year in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk corridor and unemployment in the area will rise to more than 7 percent.
Rahm Emanuel, who will be Obama’s chief of staff, spoke at the conference and called on the mayors to support Obama’s plan, saying smaller cities such as Stamford and Norwalk are just as important in turning around the economy as larger ones.
“We’re not distinguishing big cities versus small,” Emanuel said. “We’re making sure that our investments in healthcare, energy independence and 21-century education are our standards.”
Finch said it is important that cities lead the way in creating jobs. According to the report more than 85 percent of the country’s population lives in urban areas and cities produce 90 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
“Whether you are a large city or small city, the economy doesn’t know where town boundaries are,” said Finch.
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